Using MMOL Platforms for collaborative educational tasks

Doctoral Thesis / Dissertation from the year 2014 in the subject Computer Science - Miscellaneous, grade: 9,5, Universidad de Alcalá, course: Technology enhanced learning (TEL), language: English, abstract: Massively Multiuser On-line Learning (MMOL) platforms, often called "virtual learning worlds", constitute a still unexplored context for communication-enhanced learning, where synchronous and asynchronous communication skills in an explicit social setting enhance the potential of effective collaboration. In this thesis, we report on three experimental studies of collaborative educational tasks in an MMOL setting.

Results suggest that MMOL platforms can be used in collaborative tasks as a means to enhance both tutor/learner interaction patterns and the strength of the group¿s relationship. Furthermore, MMOL platforms can create a stimulating atmosphere around a collaborative creative learning process, also because this technology builds on a pre-existing common interest by users in the multi-user 3D videogame culture.